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Literati Cafe

2 Dec

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Literati Cafe is a conveniently located, restaurant/coffee that is sort of a “one stop shop” for all your daily caffeine and food needs. Given that it is less of a coffee shop and more a cafe, it is hard to judge their quality based solely on the coffee. So before visiting, just keep that in mind.

It is a big, spacious place that is great for meetings, studying, or just hanging out. The food looked pretty tasty, so this would probably make a good lunch place. That being said, the price-point was a bit of a turn off; I am not inclined to play $12 for a salad or $10 for a sandwich from a place that wants to be a restaurant and a coffee shop.

Though I was incited to follow routine and get a cap, I opted for coffee instead….It left a lot to be desired and left me slightly grateful I didn’t keep to tradition. The coffee was enormous (relative), dark, certainly over-roasted  and tasted like it had been in the carafe for a while; not horrible, not good, just… a cup of dark coffee. They were, however, kind enough to give me a free refill. I was hoping a “fresher” cup might taste a little better. I will just say, good try. While the baristas may be able to put out some fancy looking caps and lattes with good art, I took this as a learning experience; as much as I shouldn’t judge a “good drink” by bad art, the same goes both ways .

Given that Literati is a cafe, you have to take it at face value. But, seeing as the Westside has many other good coffee spots, I would only visit again for the ample space and calm environment, not the coffee.

The Refinery

11 Jul

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The Refinery is an excellent shop in Santa Monica. They are a growing business that is quickly developing a solid reputation as an artisan coffee shop in the Los Angeles area. Although the Refinery has only been open for 4 months, their soft opening seems to have been fairly successful. In time, I can see them becoming something exceptional.

The aesthetics of the Refinery are unparalleled. In fact, the design may be the most impressive feature of the shop. It epitomizes chic; the black color scheme and linear architecture gives it an urbane, professional presence. It is almost more akin to an architect’s studio than a coffee shop; the seating is literally sleek wooden desks with circular workshop stools. This decor is complimented by elegant artistry; the paintings on the walls were done by local artists and their cups were crafted by a specialty ceramics company based in Oakland. While seemingly minuscule in comparison, I think their logo could make waves (see first photo background). Many people have told me that the key to any successful brand is a recognizable icon. The “oil-drop” is not only characteristically fitting but appropriately fashionable. Overall, the shop has a very mature and inviting atmosphere. The Refinery uses top of the line equipment and one of the best machines on the market; a Synesso Cyncra. It such a wonderful, functional centerpiece to any bar and especially fitting for this particular counter space.

The barista who served me was extremely cordial. We chatted about the local coffee scene, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles in general for well over an hour. What I appreciated most was her learning attitude and willingness to bounce ideas at me. Big cities are sometimes lacking in places with a truly welcoming vibe, especially trendy ones. Much to my chagrin, more and more coffee shops are devoid of “people” people. Almost seems like a crime. But The Refinery really nailed it with a great staff. Having a friendly baristas is always a reason for a second visit. Sometimes, it’s the only reason.

The Refinery sources its beans from Ritual, one of the best roasting companies in the Bay Area and possibly the country. While I cannot rave about Ritual enough, sourcing beans from such a distant location seems impractical. Utilizing their training techniques is an incredibly smart decision, but transporting beans across the state makes one wary of quality. However, it’s nice to have some variety besides Intelligentsia or Handsome.

My cap was pretty solid. The temperature was superb and the flavor was well defined: savory and heavy. It’s always wonderful to visit a shop that sources beans and somehow produces a drink with flavors that are distinct from the roaster. How a shop utilizes its bean is almost more important than what bean they chose to brew. The milk was smooth but a little foamy, though thoroughly it mixed with the espresso. The barista and I talked a lot about techniques, pouring, and consistency. After a while, I needed a second cap. She was kind enough to let me pour and I was able to show her a few little tricks. Always fun to share knowledge!

The Refinery is a new business that is still establishing itself as a coffee destination. They are a learning business and so far, they have done a terrific job. From its location to the Cyncra, the Refinery shows enormous potential and is poised to be another great shop in the West LA metroplitan area.

I liked:

  • The Cyncra
  • The aesthetic
  • Maturity
  • The name and logo are so fitting
The Refinery 
 
413 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Neighborhood: Santa Monica

(310) 986-2776

Balconi Cafe

29 Jun

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Balconi is a cool little spot off Sawtelle that specializes in siphon brewed coffee. With the relatively recent boost in business growth around the “Little Osaka” area of West LA, a few coffee shops are also enjoying increased popularity. Balconi has existed as an established coffee destination since 1995, only recently moving to its current location roughly 1.5 years ago.

The shop is stylish in an old fashioned way. From the “oldie time” register stand with diodes and copper wiring to the decorative type writers, Balconi has a classiness right out of the early 19th centry. I suppose this is pretty appropriate since siphon coffee was the brewing method of choice for many until the percolators of the 60s and modern auto-coffee makers. Seeing as the shop is also from an older era of coffee, there is still physical evidence of a coffee nostalgia throughout the store, both in the presentation and coffee preparation. Balconi is moving from second wave into third but still holding it down somewhere in between. It’s good to see shops adapt to the current trends but maintain a solid distinction. Plus, who really rides waves? Their prominent display of glass apparatuses and the bar counter lined with siphons is an impressive sight. The literal bar arrangement is a really elegant and intimate touch. Balconi doesn’t miss out on little details either. I really liked their two group Linea with the blacked out pre-programmed since it forces shots to be pulled manually. Not terribly important to everyone, but things like that demonstrate what people are willing to do to ensure quality.

Siphon pots are their forte without a doubt. I really missed out by not ordering one and going with my standard cap. They use Handsome beans for their regular coffee, an excellent local roaster. The baristas at Balconi are very skilled at this method, so much so they were able to compete in the SCAA South West Regional Barista competition. Siphon has a unique flavor and consistency that many strive for. Few shops actually brew their coffee via this a delicate method, let alone do it well. Modeling itself around siphon is a great way to stand out.

My cap was good, but as a disclaimer, espresso at Balconi does not seem to have nearly as much emphasis as brewed coffee. The espresso flavor was bitter but in a pleasant way, which lingered prominently throughout the cup. The milk was steamed extremely hot and the foam was slightly thick, making the cap’s presentation and over all texture only decent.

One almost unnoticeable addition to the store that really demonstrated their attention to detail in presentation was their stationary. At every seat is a little note pad and a pen with their name on it. I took my notes onthis, it was a simple yet professional extra. I sat at the bar chatting with the barista at some length. If I could go out with my co workers after work for a drink at the bar, I would prefer going to Balconi; it is elegant, understated, and relaxing to say the least.

I liked:

  • The older decor
  • The bar
  • Siphon’s and Handsome
  • Mellow atmosphere

Balconi Coffee

11301 W Olympic Blvd
Ste 124
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Neighborhood: West Los Angeles

Urth Cafe

21 Mar

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This place was pretty hyped up for me. I thought it was an “artisan” coffee joint because I had heard about and seen the quality of their work. So today, I finally made the trek out there. Immediately I was turned off by two things; the utter business of the store and its “manufacturing” of coffee and the fact that it was obviously a chain. Skeptical, but i had to get over myself and try a cap. I expected it to be decent at best. The menu led me to believe that it was sort of psuedo connoisseur since they referred to things like “light italian traditional roast” and asked me if I wanted an American or Italian style cap. Strange terminology, but they really just simplified coffee jargon. Cool. The place was packed, busy, the clientele were… well… “SB guests.” I did not expect a whole lot from this place.

So we sit down, and I was really impressed with their high quality free pour art on such a quickly and mass produced drink. Ok, time to taste. Now, I am reviewing this by comparing the shop to other second wave shops rather than to third wave. For a number of reasons, I want to put it in the same bracket as a Pete’s or CB or SB since it really is more of a mainstream mass consumer store. That being said, I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the drink. It was about 85% of what a good third wave shop can do. The espresso was mild, good tasting, and the milk texture was pretty smooth. Now, again, it was not anything amazing in comparison to Intelligentsia or Blue Bottle, but for what it was, a quickly produced coffee at a high volume store, it really is exceptional. If this company plays its cards right, it could be major competition for both third wave stores and put many SBs out of business. Great job guys, keep up the good work.

I liked:

  • The speed to quality ratio
  • The pie
  • The accessibility of their products to “noobs,” or rather, the way the make things simple for the customers while utilizing relatively advanced techniques
  • Lack of “barista attitude”

Urth Cafe

2327 Main St

Santa Monica, CA 90407

(310) 314-7040

  • Mon-Thu, Sun 6:30 am – 11 pm
  • Fri-Sat 6:30 am – 12 am

Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea

21 Mar

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This place, along with Blue Bottle, has been a kind of “coffee unicorn” of sorts for my friends in the coffee business. These places have always been talked about like things of legend, things to be revered, and places I must go before the end of my coffee career.

So, I finally took the trek down to Venice. I heard this Intelligentsia was unique in its set up and service. It was a little off the beaten path, but a fun ride none the less. Honestly, it was a great experience from start to finish.

First, the coffee itself. I of course ordered a cap. The milk was a good temp (I dunno why people seem to insist on steaming below 135), the texture was amazing, the art was solid, and the espresso brought everything together well. It was slightly too bitter for me (I really like single origin), but my friend said she loved its chocolatey quality. I was generally very impressed with it overall and was, to some degree, “blown away.” It was not leaps and bounds ahead of anything up in SF or even Santa Cruz , but it was steps ahead. The coffee my friend had was great, but I think that artisan coffee reaches this point where everything is delicious and amazing, it really depends on personal taste rather then any tangible qualities.

Second, the general lay out of the store. It was beautifully decorated and set up in a very spacious manner. It felt very warehouse like, similar to what Sight Glass seems to be shooting for, but surprisingly comfortable. I also loved the round sort of barista island and the individual stations. They use Synesso Hydras (my store just got the latest model, unbelievable machines), and really go to great lengths to make these stations fully accessible with individual machines, brew bars, and grinders. They even opened up each machine and put plexi-glass on the front so you can see the inner-workings. What is most notable about the layout is how you get a personal experience at each station; customers are led with their party to one station with one barista who engages with you and makes exactly what you request.

Finally, the customer service is really unique. I have been to many third wave shops and there generally is this “it is an honor to be here” attitude of the baristas. They seem to write off customers who are “snobs” or other baristas, which always surprised and slightly offended me. Customer service is a huge part of the restaurant experience for me, and it is even more true for coffee. People seem to overlook this aspect more often then not; a good barista is not only a skilled worker but an excellent and hospitable server who should be helping you enjoy your experience rather then belittle you for not being “third wave” enough. I was more then pleasantly surprised with our server. She was not only friendly and positive, but she was more than willing to talk tech, beans, espresso, and technique with me. She asked me all about my shop, the equipment I used, and seemed genuinely interested in my input. Very hospitable, very willing to offer my friend and I a variety of options, and really put a smile on my face; this was an expert who loved what she did and wanted me to be part of her love of coffee while at the same time respecting my opinions and encouraging my input. It was an exchange and she truly demonstrated an unsurpassed level of skill.

I cannot recommend this place enough to coffee lovers, snobs, or noobs. It excels in all of the aforementioned categories. I walked in with high expectations and left with those expectations met and exceeded. Keep up the amazing work guys.

I liked:

  • Everything… no really everything. They really covered all the bases
  • Their superior customer service and attention to individuals
  • Attention to details, with little things like plexiglass on the Hydras

Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea

1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Mon-Wed, Sun 6 am – 8 pm
Thu-Sat 6 am – 11 pm
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